Historical Overview Section

18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties 1550BC-1069BC. The New Kingdom (1570â€“1070 BC) followed the Second Intermediate Period and was succeeded by the Third Intermediate Period. It was Egyptâ€™s most prosperous time and marked the zenith of its power.

Possibly as a result of the foreign rule of the Hyksos during the Second Intermediate Period, the New Kingdom saw Egypt attempt to create a buffer between the Levant and Egypt, and attained its greatest territorial extent. It expanded far south into Nubia and held wide territories in the Near East. Egyptian armies fought the Hittite Empire for control of modern-day Syria.

The eighteenth Dynasty contained some of Egypt's most famous Pharaohs including Tutankhamun and Thutmose III ("the Napoleon of Egypt") who expanded Egypt's army and wielded it with great success. This resulted in a peak in Egypt's power and wealth during the reign of Amenhotep III. Towards the end of the 18th Dynasty, the situation had changed radically and the Hittite Empire gradually extended it's influence into Syria and Palestine. Ramesses II ("the Great") sought to recover territories in the Levant that had been held by the 18th Dynasty and his campaign of reconquest culminated in the Battle of Kadesh where he led Egyptian armies against those of the king of the Hittite Empire, and was caught in history's first recorded military ambush - but thanks to the arrival of the Ne'arin Ramesses was able to rally his troops and turn the tide of battle against the Hittites. The outcome of the battle was undecided, both sides claiming victory at their home front, ultimately resulting in a peace treaty between the two nations.

The last "great" pharaoh from the New Kingdom is widely regarded to be Ramesses III, a Twentieth Dynasty pharaoh who reigned several decades after Ramesses II. In Year 8 of his reign, the Sea Peoples? invaded Egypt by land and (unsurprisingly) sea. Ramesses III defeated them in two great land and sea battles and claimed to have incorporated them as subject peoples and settled them in Southern Canaan, although there is evidence that they forced their way into Canaan. Their presence in Canaan may have contributed to the formation of new states in this region such as the Philistines after the collapse of the Egyptian Empire. He was also compelled to fight invading Early Libyan tribesmen in two major campaigns in Egypt's Western Delta in his Year 6 and Year 11 respectively.

The heavy cost of these battles slowly exhausted Egypt's treasury and contributed to the gradual decline of the Egyptian Empire in Asia. Following Ramesses III's death there was endless bickering between his heirs. Three of his sons would go on to assume power as Ramesses IV, Ramesses VI and Ramesses VIII respectively. However, at this time Egypt was also increasingly beset by a series of droughts, below-normal flooding levels of the Nile, famine, civil unrest and official corruption. The power of the last pharaoh, Ramesses XI, grew so weak that in the south the High Priests of Amun at Thebes became the effective defacto rulers of Upper Egypt, while Smendes controlled Lower Egypt even before Ramesses XI's death. Smendes eventually founded the Twenty-First dynasty at Tanis.

Using the army in FoG

Decide if your army wants to fight or shoot - and then concentrate on one or the other

An IC is semi-mandatory as otherwise your unprotected bowmen are dogmeat in a shooting match, which you will face in period

The Superior Nubian archers are really cool - and can fight as well almost

Upgrade the Egyptian Guard to Sherden Guard to max out on your striking power.

Be patient it is an army to exploit openings rather than force them

The chariots are pretty powerful if you shoot with them and make people charge you - often worth standing if they are DISred. Use plenty -as much as 5 BGs

Keep the foot really simple - LF and normal egytpian MF in 6s. This is so they are very agile.

Use the foot very carefully in groups of 3 BGs with 2 providing rear support at deployment - clearly aim for terrain.

Don't mix it in combat until you have a good chance - use you drilled turn and moves and contracts to avoid combats

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